Note that this year the golden state carriage will not be used for Prinsjesdag as it is restored. They will use the glass state carriage instead.

Marengo

08-20-2007 04:33 AM

Here some pictures and information about my favourite carriage, the Creme Caleche.

From the website of the royal house:

Cream Calèche

Built by the Hague-based firm Hermans, the Cream Calèche was a gift from Queen Emma to her daughter Wilhelmina.

The Calèche is ivory-coloured and adorned with gold oak leaves. The coach sports two groups of gilded figures representing the Graces, along with a gold royal crown, a laurel wreath and a palm of victory. The Cream Calèche is drawn by six horses and driven by two postillions, one at the front left and one at the back left of the carriage.

I believe that the carriage was last used in 1980, when the new Queen and her family entered the residence, The Hague.

An excellent website about the creme caleche and the restauration of the carriage can be found here.

Henri M.

08-20-2007 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marengo
(Post 655312)

I believe that the carriage was last used in 1980, when the new Queen and her family entered the residence, The Hague.

No, the Crème Calèche has been used by HRH The Prince of Orange for his triumphant entrance during the opening ceremony of The Hague World Equestrian Games 1994 and also was on display in Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) 5 years ago or something.

Since then it was withdrawn from the active service to undergo a major restoration, part of a restoration of all stately carriages (like the Golden State Carriage on this moment). In 2004 the (much needed) restoration was ended and the carriage is in full splendour again.

You can see pictures of the golden ornaments here and of the carriage here.

HMQueenElizabethII

08-20-2007 06:37 AM

That's such a beautiful carriage, the Cream Calèche. The Dutch Royals don't seem to use open carriages as much like the British do, i'd like to see them more in those.

Henri M.

08-20-2007 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HMQueenElizabethII
(Post 655341)

That's such a beautiful carriage, the Cream Calèche. The Dutch Royals don't seem to use open carriages as much like the British do, i'd like to see them more in those.

Together with the British, the Dutch Royal House has a fine collection of carriages. But indeed: the habit of having a ceremonial ride through the city of Amsterdam or The Hague during a State Visit has been abolished in the end of the 1980's.

Reason for that was the declining public interest for seeing, let us say, the President of Ivory Coast or the President of Venezuela. Of course the public turn out would be massive when Queen Elizabeth II or King Albert II or President Sarkozy would be seated next to the Queen. But then she would make a difference in various heads of state and that was 'undesirable'.

Two other main reasons were the fear for the security of the VIPS ánd the less and lesser acceptance of closing a whole city centre, for laying ropes in the rails for the streetcars (to prevent carriage wheels become stuck into it), the adding of sand on the asphalt alongside the route, ánd to house some 100-150 horses to escort the procession. (Amsterdam is a logistic nightmare for royal events: it is no royal residence and does not have the extended Royal Mews to house the carriages and horses in, like in The Hague or Apeldoorn, the traditional residences for the Orange-Nassau Princes, Stadtholders and Kings).

Luckily this was no reason for the Queen to neglect her carriages: these are all kept in wonderful condition and can be seen on highdays. This year will see the fantastic Glass State Carriage from 1826 on the annual Prinsjesdag (the usual Golden State Carriage is in restoration).

:flowers:

lucien

08-25-2007 11:28 PM

Seems the Golden State Coach wiil be used after all this year as John reports on the BRMB.He wrote to the RVD/Postbus 51 on the matter of restauration of both the Golden- and Glass State Coach,the reply was that there are plans of restoring both,but it will be of no consequence for this years Prinsjesdag.Alas.

Courtesy John in Assen,BRMB.

HMQueenElizabethII

08-25-2007 11:49 PM

Thanks Henri. The Glass State Carriage looks really impressive, i am sure it would bring new impression about the annual Prinsjesdag.

Marengo

08-26-2007 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucien
(Post 657332)

Seems the Golden State Coach wiil be used after all this year as John reports on the BRMB.He wrote to the RVD/Postbus 51 on the matter of restauration of both the Golden- and Glass State Coach,the reply was that there are plans of restoring both,but it will be of no consequence for this years Prinsjesdag.Alas.

Courtesy John in Assen,BRMB.

That is a pity, I would have liked to see the glass state coach in full service again. Now it is only used for the test-ride the day before prinsjesdag, I believe. When was the last time the coach was used? At the wedding of Beatrix by Juliana, Bernhard and Gosta von Amsberg?

Henri M.

08-26-2007 07:33 AM

Last ride with passengers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marengo
(Post 657361)

That is a pity, I would have liked to see the glass state coach in full service again. Now it is only used for the test-ride the day before prinsjesdag, I believe. When was the last time the coach was used? At the wedding of Beatrix by Juliana, Bernhard and Gosta von Amsberg?

The carriage is held in excellent condition and is used for rehearsals for the Golden State Carriage: it is also pulled by eight horses. It can ride any moment and it is no museum-piece in un-use.

But the very last time the carriage was used wíth passengers was on March 10th 1966 indeed, with as passengers:

- Her Majesty The Queen- His Royal Highness The Prince of the Netherlands- The high- and wellborn lady Gösta von Amsberg, Baroness von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen

The previous time was a marriage as well, the one between Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard in 1936. The only pic I could from the Glass State Carriage 'in action' was made during this marriage. The carriage had two passengers:

The Glass Coach really is the venerable old state coach of the Netherlands. It ís a museum piece. The craftsmenship is unique and the detail of the ornamentation is exceptional. It seems they are planning to restore this coach as well.
Although the Royal Mews have a department for painting and restoring carriages these people don't seem to have the manpower and the knowledge for the restoration of 'special' carriages.

In the brochure by fa. Stolk about the restoration of the Créme Caleche if was pointed out that, although with the best intentions, the Royal Mews had really made an mess of the paintwork, used wrong materials etc.

Queen Beatrix really has more attention for the monumental side of the monarchy. It is under her reign that Coaches are restored to be used again.
Several Berlines have been restored, the Creme Caleche, now the Glass Coach and the Golden Coach and of course also the Minerva car of Prince Hendrik etc. etc.

The most special restored coach is of course the old Royal Hearse that was put back together by Belgium Coach builder Patrick Schroven.
He had to make an entire new 'onderbouw' for this coach as the original lower part of the coach is used for the modern Royal Hearse.
Schroven also restored a berline, see picture http://cms.proximedia.com/files/2742...gallery/11.jpg

Here some pictures Oscar made and posted on the Benelux Royals MB. I have his permission to post them, so they are free of copyrights and thus can be shown directly. The pictures were made during the rehearsal of Prinsjesdag and show the Glass State Coach, according to many the most beautifull coach owned by the Dutch RF.

The Gold state coach is very beautiful, I remember reading that the coach is actually painted gold rather than using real gold ( gold leaf) as done with for instance the gold state coach in the British collection.